Machine for stringing tobacco leaves



Nov. 29, 192311111.

ek G. w. KENNEDY MACHINE Fon STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed July 31, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet' 1 y @noemtoz anota,

Nov. 29, 1927. 1,650,990

G'. W. KENNEDY MACHINE FOR STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1925.

Nov. 29, 1927. y'

'. G. W. KENNEDY MACHINE FCR STRINCING TOBACCO LEAVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 31, 1925 attozwaq Patented Nov. 22, 1927.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

GURNEY WILLIAM KENNEDY, OF QUINCY, FLORIDA.

lVlAGI-HNE FOR STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES.y

A Application filed July 31, 1925. Serial No. 47,314.

tobacco at uniform intervals along the string, the operation of which is dependent upon the presence of a unit of tobacco (leaf or leaves) between the shuttle and needle point.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable spacing device that can be set to space the tobacco at any desired in-v tervals.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following' description of an illustrative embodiment thereof proceeds.

in the ydrawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side sectional view of a part of the device, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; y

Figure 1 is a section taken along the line 4 1 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the spacing clips about to assume an eX- tended position;

Figures 5, 7 andA 8 are perspective views of the front end of the shuttle showing the pushing pawl respectively in inoperative and operative position;

Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views showing alternative forms of the eye of the needle;

' Figure 11 is a side elevation of the spacing bar, part thereof being brolren away;

Figure 12 is a transverse section through the needle; feed, shuttle `and spacing bar chambers, part of the last named chamber being omitted;

Figure 13 is a transverse section on an,

enlarged scale, through the needle chamber, showing a portion of the needle, and resilicnt bed therefor;

Figure 14; is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 15 is a perspective view showing one of the springs, forming the needle bed; Y `Figure 16 is a longitudinal section through the automatic spacing attachment used alternatively to the spacing bar; and

Figure 17 is a section taken along the line ir-i7 of ing. i6.

Referring now in detail to the several figi ures, the numeral 1 represents a longitudinally extending frame having suitable supports 2 and 3 adjacent the ends thereof. The frame is so constructed as to define spaces which may be differentiated into several chambers,according to their function; a string chamber extending between the end wall 4 and a point in the frame indicated by the reference character a,' aneedle chamber,

between the points a and WW; a feed chamber into which the tobacco leaves to be strung are introduced, lying between the points ant c; and a shuttle chamber extending rearwardly of the feed chamber. The string, needle and feed chambers, are closed at the back but formed with a continuous open bottom. The string chamber is open on the forvard side also, as is thefeed chamber, but the needle chamber is closed on its forward side by a removable door 27 about which more will be written later. The shuttle charnber may be closed on all sides but on account of the narrowness of the frame, as shown;l it. has slotted top and bottom walls to accommodate the angular amplitude of travel of the pitman 7.

A needle 8 is stationarily held in the neel dle chamber. having its point rdirected toward the feed chamber. The opposite end of the needle is provided with an eye for attaching the string 9. ySaid string extends through the string chamber`r being. maintained taut by a weight 10 depending 'from the opposite end.l A. shuttle 23 reciprocates in the forward end of the shuttle chamber, and the range of its excursion carries it to a point slightly beyond the eye of the needle. The shuttle is operated by an electric motor 12 or other power source, the power from which is transmitted to a pulley 13 having a crank arm 14. The pitman 7 connects the shuttle 11 with the crank arm 14.

In operating the device, a leaf of tobacco. or a desired number of leaves, is introduced into the feed chamber in front of the'needle 1point, the shuttle operating to force the leaf or bundle of leaves upon the needle and beyond it to a pointy upon the string adjacent the eye lof the needle.V Successive leaves or bundles of leaves, as strung; are progressively spaced at equal intervals along the string posit-ion.

ning of the slots 63 and 64 so that the pawl 28 .falls off of said extension at about the same time the pawls 60 and 61 'drop into spring engaging position; when the nose is pushed back by the tobacco. The function of the pawl 28 is to actuate the spacing mechanism, in a manner which will be prescording to several factors among which maybe mentioned the humidity of the atmosphere, the condition of the green tobacco, the construction of the shed in which the drying takes place, the amount to be cured, and the grade sought. l f

Inthe present invention I have provided the 'spacing bar 16, previously incidentally referred to, which travels longitinlinally in a chamber extending practically the length of the whole machine, to one side of the string, needle, feed, and shuttle chambers, beingseparated from the last three chambers mentioned by an imperforate portion of the partition wall 34, but open to the string chamber through a slot 35. Theslot 35 is designed to provide for the extrusion of the spacing clips 15. These clips, one of which is shown in detail in F 5, each consist-s vof a pivoted member adapted to seat ina recess 36 formed in the spacing bar when in inoperative position but to be biased toward a position perpendicular to the spacing bar by means ofa spring 37.

The clipsare formed with a slot 50 which embraces the string 9, enabling the clips to support the weight of the loaded string. To

prevent this weight tilting the spacing bar' laterally and causing it to bind against the Vwalls of the chamberv in which it slides, the

spacing barisprovided with thrust rollers 51.

There are a number of these spacing clips, arranged at spaced intervals which have been found proper for the maximum spacing of the tobacco leaves. The top of-they spacing bar is formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth 38, which teeth are arranged to be in the path of the pawl 28 carried by the shuttle' when said pawl isin operative Said pawl will hereinafter be referred to as the pushing pawl for vits function is to advance the spacing or rack bar-when the shuttle advances, providing thatthere is tobacco in the feed chamber at the time of the advance of the shuttle.

`When the spacing bar'is in positionof repose, it lies next tothe imperforate portion of the partition wall 34, the spacing clips 15 being held confined within vthe recesses 36 by the proximity of said imperforate portion. The spacing bar is normally biased toward this position by means of the spring 39, being advanced step by step from said position by reciprocatory movements of the shuttle. f

The spacing bar chamber is provided, at least in that part which lies` adjacent the shuttle, feed, and needle chambers with an upper wall, the same lying beneaththe path transversed by the pawl 28 when it lies in inoperative position. ThenV said pawl' is tripped by engagement yof theptobacco with A the nose 52 the end of it contacts with saidl .upper wall and slides upon it until an elongated aperture 30 is reached. This letsthe nose of the pawl into the ratchet teeth 38, and further advance of the pawl while within said slot moves the spacing bar a distance equal to the length of the remainder of the stroke of the shuttle, which, normally is equal to the distance between two spacing clips. the spacing bar is held against return by a holding pawl 41 fixed to the frame, which also engages the ratchet teeth 38. When the spacing bar has been advancedV to its full ex- Y tent, that is to say, to the full `length of the string chamber, the holding pawl falls down into a recess 42, adjacent the rearward end of the spacing bar, being thereby released so that the spacing bar returns at once to its position of repose under the urge of the spring 39. The pawl then drops over'the forward edge of the spacing bar in readiness to perform its function as soon as it rides vup on the teeth of said `bar under the initial advance movement of the latter. It is `clear that whenever there is tobacco in the feed chamber, reciprocation of the shuttle will cause operation of the spacing mechanism, but that when there is no tobacco in the feed chamber the nose 52 will not be pushed back and the pushing pawl 28 will remain inoperative. Thus there will be no idle operation of the spacing mechanism, nor will there be any vacant places on the string.

, It will be observed fromL F ig. 1 that the imperforate portion of the partition wall 34 extends to the point 43 which is just beyond the eye of the needle 8, but to the rear of the outward limit of t-he range of travel of the shuttle. 'It is at this point that the spacing clips begin to swing outwardly through the slot 35 into the path of the tobacco so that each clip assumes an extended position behind the leaf or leaves ofrtobacco which have just been deposited upon the string by theshuttle, and upon the advanced movement of lthe spacing bar, it pushes said leaf or leaves fter each step by step movement,

changing pulley 4t?.

or bundles of leaves onto the string between each pair ot spacing clips. rIhis is accomplished by shortening the stroke of the shuttle in any suitable manner, as for instance, by shorteningl the lengthv of the crank lst. Under such circumstances the spacing bar will be advanced a correspondingly i'educefl distance at cach stroke, placter where a tobacco leaf may slide under such conditions, it is the only leaf, or bundle of leaves between two clips and will inevitably move by the rearward of said clips to a. posi- -tion determined by the stopping point of said clip upon cessation of the advanced movement of the spacing bar, but when the length of the shuttle bar is regulated to introduce two or more leaves or bundle of leaves between a pair of spacing clips, moinentum'of the tobacco at the end of the shuttle sti-oke is apt to cause the leaf or `leaves of the tobacco to bunch up together,

without any semblance of uniform spacing.

M f invention therefore contem lates the 3ro- 5 P l vision of means, independent of the spacing clips, for inhibiting the inertia movements of the tobacco leaves so that they become uniformly spaced upon the string according to the uniform strokes ofthe shuttle and lwithout reference to the spacing clips.

This attachment preferably consists of a small casing 44 adapted to be arranged on top of the frame l., and supporting a sliding yoke which is positioned to descend toa point at which it straddles the string 9, just in advance of the outward limit of the shuttle stroke. This yoke is normally suspended in inoperative position by means such as the spring G6 whichis stretched by a cable 67, attached to the innei1 end of a plunger 45, the latter being arranged in the path of the shuttle, and to be struck thereby. The cable 67 1iasses over suitable direction TWhen the plunger is pressed inwardly of the casing by the shuttle, the` yoke is lowered to a position in which it inhibits the momentum of the tobacco. Upon the return stroke of the shuttle the plunger and attached cable are urged in the opposite direction by contraction of the spring 66, quickly lifting the yoke to inoperative position. rThis attachment is not necessarv when the machine is operating with the length of advance movement produced by the shuttle stroke equal to the distance between the spacing clips.

' Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent, iszf n 1. In atobacco Stringing machine, a sta.- tionaryneedle carrying a string at one end, supporting means engaging said needle at a plurality of longitudinal points,` means Vtor iinpaling a tobacco leafupon said needle and vpushingV it the full length of said needle upon the string beyond, said supporting means being constructed to yield away from said needle at successive points, andimeans carried -by the iinpaling means to engage and move the needle supporting means` away from the needle for passage of the tobacco. l

y2. In a tobacco stringing machine, astationary needle carrying a stringat one end, a plurality of resiliently mounted supporting means engaging said needle at a pluralityof longitudinal points, means Vfor impaling a tobacco leaf upon said needle and pushing itv the full length of said needle, upon'the string beyond, .and means carried by the iinpaling means to engage the resilient supporting meansand move the same yaway from rvthe needle lor passage of the tobacco.

needle, means for impaling a tobacco leaf.V

upon said needle7 and pushing it the full length thereof, upon the string beyond, and means carried 'by the impaling means to engage and'move the supporting means away from the needle for'passage of the tobacco.

4.1In, a tobacco Stringing machine, a stationary needle carrying a string at one end, a plurality of pairs of ogpositely arranged resilient supporting means having endsembracing said needle longitudinally, the pair adjacent the point iof said needle converging in the direction of travel of the tobacco, means for ,impaling a tobacco leaf upon said needle and pushing it the full length there of upon the string beyond, the forward tobacco engaging face of said impaling means being substantiallyV V-shaped and cooperating with said convergent pair of sup,A

porting means for allocating said tobacco in the path of the needle point, and means carried by the impaling means to engage and move the supporting means away from the needlel for passage of the tobacco.

5. In a tobacco stringiiig machine, a sta-y tionary needle, a string carried thereby in tensioned relation axially of the needle, means for supporting said needle and preventing endwise yielding of the same tothe tension of said string, comprising a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged resilient? a passage of said tobacco so that some of said roiections are at all times in some of said l lateral holes.

6. In a tobacco Stringing machine, a stationary needle, a string carried thereby in tensioned relation axially of the needle, means for supporting said needle and preventing endvvise yielding of the same to the tension of the string, comprising a plurality o-f pairs of oppositely arranged resiliently mounted supporting means, embracing said needle longitudinally, the supporting means of some of said pairs having projections eX- f tending oppositely through lateral holes in said needle, means for impaling a tobacco leaf upon said needle and pushing it the full length of said needle upon the string beyond, said supporting means successively yielding to the pressure of means carried by said tobacco impaling means, to permit passage of the tobacco, and immediately reengaging said needle after passage of said tobacco, so that some of said projections are at all times in some of said lat-eral holes, said projections acting as cleaners for said holes.

7. In a tobacco Stringing machine, a frame 'forming a feed chamber, a stationary needle at one side thereof carrying a string, spacing means operatively positioned with respect to said string, a shuttle at the other side of said feed chamber, and movable thereacross into telescopic relation to said needle, for impaling tobacco upon said needle and pushingit beyond said needle,

upon said string, means normally inoperative, carried by said shuttle for producing step by step advance of said spacing means, and means actuated by tobacco in said feed chamber upon contact With said shuttle for rendering said advancing means operative.

8. In a tobacco Stringing machine, a frame forming a feed chamber, a stationary needle at one side' thereof carrying a string, a shuttle at the other side of said feed chamber, movable thereacross into telescopic relation to said needle, for impaling tobacco upon said needle yand pushing it beyond said needle upon said string, spacing means operatively position-ed with respect to said string, means normally inoperative, carried by said shuttle for yproducing step by step advance of said spacing means and means actuated by ltobacco in said feed chamber,

upon Contact With said shuttle, for rendering said advancing means operative, said spacing means including a bar, and clips carried thereby successively extensible at each advance step of said spacing means behind successive deposits of tobacco made by said shuttle upon said string adjacent the needle.

9. In a tobacco stringing machine, a frame forming a feed chamber, a stationary needle at onev side thereof carrying a string, a

yshuttle at the `other side of said feed chamber movable thereacross in telescopic relation to saidneedle for impaling tobacco upon said needle pushing it beyond said needle upon said string, and shuttle actuated means operatively related to said string for inhibiting the inertia of tobacco thus deposited.

l0. In a tobacco Stringing machine, 'a'

frame forming a feed chamber, a stationary needle at one side thereof carrying a string, a shuttle at the other side of said feed chamber, movable thereacross into telescopic relation to said needle and pushing it beyond said needle upon said string, shuttle actuated means for inhibiting the inertia of the tobacco thus'deposited, spacing means operatively positioned with respect to said string, means normally inoperative, carried by said shuttle for producing step by step advance of said spacing means and means actuated by tobacco in said feedchamber, upon contact with said shuttle, for rendering said advancing means operative, said spacing means including a bar, and Clips carried thereby successively eXtensible at each'advance ste? lof said spacing means behind successive deposits of tobacco madevby said shuttle upon said string adjacent Vthe needle; Y

l1. In a tobacco stringing machine, a frame forming a feed chamber. a stationary needle at one side thereof carrying a string, a shuttle at the other side of said feed chamber movable thereacross in telescopic relation to said needle for impaling tobacco upon said needle pushing it beyondvsaid needle upon said string, shuttle actuated means operatively related to said string for inhibiting the inertia of tobacco thus deposited and means for regulating the length'of the advance steps of said spacing means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 

